Found a pest and not sure what to do? Here’s how to identify and prevent different pests, including bed bugs, bird mites, ticks, rats, scabies, mosquitoes and European wasps.

Rat Prevention and Control

Rats live with us everyday across our suburban areas and can make their homes in houses, sheds, garages and gardens. If you notice an increase in the number of rats our Environmental Health Team can help you identify where the rats might be coming from. Most rat issues can be addressed simply by communicating with residents in the area, and if we can find out where the rats are coming from, our Environmental Health Team will investigate.

For more information, visit SA Health's information on rat prevention and control or give us a call on 1300 133 466.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed in calm, still water throughout the year but increase in summer. Here’s how to prevent getting bitten:

• Cover or remove all containers (such as tins, jars, tyres) that hold water
• Keep fish ponds stocked with fish (we recommend goldfish or native fish)
• Keep your roof gutters in good shape and regularly remove leaves and debris to stop water from pooling
• Empty your pot plant drip trays once a week (or fill them with sand to absorb excess water)
• Keep swimming pools disinfected or salted
• Screen any rainwater tanks, septic tanks, and other large water containers with wire gauze that’s constructed with mesh that’s at least 1mm thick
• Replace your bird baths and pets’ drinking water at least once a week
• Drill holes in tyres used for swings and in the garden to help water drain from them
• Overturn any boats, canoes and dinghies (or have the drain plug removed) so that they don’t hold water after it rains
• Install screens on doors and windows
• Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and cover up as much of the body as possible
• Use an insect repellent that contains DEET (Diethyl toluamide), and spray or roll over all areas of exposed skin.

For information on mosquito bites,  visit the SA Health website.

Mosquitoes and rainwater tanks

Your rainwater tanks should have a removable screen mesh fitted to the outlet end of the overflow pipe, or any other entry points such as the downpipes or gaps in the lid. You can add a small quantity (approximately one teaspoon) of domestic kerosene or paraffin oil to the surface of the water to prevent mosquito breeding.

Mosquitoes and swimming pools

Keep your pool clean by:

• Keep your pool running even when you’re not using it. You can do this by setting a timer on your pool filter so it runs around 2-3 hours each day
• Place a cover over the pool. Make sure that you clean off any water or leaves that pool on the surface of the cover (especially when it rains)
• Regularly chlorinate your pool and maintain good disinfection levels
• Put domestic kerosene over the surface of the water to kill any mosquito larvae that’s in the water. You can use kerosene regularly during the mosquito breeding season, as it will evaporate from the surface of the water within 2-3 days
• Clean your pool regularly – this means vacuuming and scrubbing the walls
• Backwash on a weekly basis, and get rid of the backwash water via the sewer (or into a separate underground soakage system if there’s no sewer available)

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are irritating blood-feeding insects that hide in cracks and crevices and come out at night to feed.

To find out how to identify, control and prevent them, visit SA Health's information on bed bugs prevention and treatment.

Bird Mites

Bird mites are naturally found where birds and their nests are located.

To find out how to identify, control and prevent them, visit SA Health's information on bird mites prevention and treatment.

Ticks

Ticks are external parasites that live on mammals, birds and reptiles.

To find out how to identify and prevent tick bites, visit the Department of Health.

European wasps are the same size as bees (10-15mm), but less hairy. You’ll be able to identify them by their bright yellow body, triangular markings on their abdomen, and the way they fold their wings back at rest.

The Queen European wasps have identical markings and colourings as regular wasps, except they’re larger (can be up to 20mm).

European Wasp	Bee

How to find a European wasp nest

If you see several European wasps on your property, there’s likely a nest nearby.

To find the nest, you’ll need to work out where the wasps are flying from. Try placing a food source (such as meat or pet food) in a visible location, and once the wasp has collected the food, it should fly in a direct line to the nest.

A wasp may scavenge for food up to 500m from the nest. Keep relocating the food sources in the direction of the nest – you may need to work cooperatively with your neighbours!

Nests are usually located where there’s shelter, like retaining walls, tree hollows, wall cavities, eaves of houses, vents in the outside of buildings, and holes in the ground or compost heaps.

You probably won’t see the nest (as nests are often underground) but you’ll be able to see lots of wasps entering and leaving the nest. The nest will be made out of a grey paper mache type material (nests constructed of mud aren’t European wasps nests).

If you don’t find a nest on your property, chat to your neighbours, and ask them to check their properties.

What to do if you find a European wasp nest

Give us a call on 1300 133 466, and describe the nest to one of our council officers. If you’ve been able to find the nest, we’ll come out and destroy the nest for free.

Don’t attempt to destroy the nest with insect spray or anything else. If a European wasp is aggravated, it may sting (and unlike the bee, a European wasp can sting multiple times).

If you leave the wasp alone, it won’t be aggressive to humans or other animals, but if the nest is disturbed, the wasps will release a chemical that triggers the wasps to defend the nest.

Our council officer will ask you:

• Have you identified the wasps as being European wasps?
• Have you found the nest and is it on your property?
• Is the nest on private, commercial, or Council property?
• Is there easy access to the property and the nest?
• Is access available if no one is home?
• Are there any dogs on the property?
• Is a ladder needed to gain access to the nest?
• Where is the nest exactly?

How to prevent European wasps on your property

• Don’t leave fallen fruit or food scraps lying around your yard
• Avoid leaving uneaten pet food or dog bones outside
• Make sure rubbish bins have tight fitting lids
• Always keep compost covered
• Cover bird baths and fishponds with fine mesh or shade cloth
• Keep your swimming pool covered when you’re not using it
• Cover exposed food at picnics and barbecues
• Don’t drink out of cans or bottles. Use clear containers or a straw